Linotype-machine.



(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 8, "3%. B. NADALL. LINOTYPE momma.

(Appliutioa filed WW. 1!, 189B.)

.is settled by i larvae States lil l ATENT tries.

LINQTYPEHMACHINE. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 630,396,

Application filed November ll, 1898. Serial No. (196d 65..

dated August 8, 1899. Nomodett Be it known that I, BERNE NAlL-XLL, ol(iiicago, (l lnglewood in the State of lllinois, at present residing atIf) Sloekport road, Altrinchain, in theconntyof Chester, England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in and Connected withLinotype-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be aiul'hcle'ar, and exact description ol the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it. appertaius to make and use thesame. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in and connected with thematrices of linotype-machines, and especially with the matrices of thecelebrated lllergenthaler linotype-machine. The object of it is todiminish the thickness of the matrix-bodies of an Italic font.

It must be understood that the body of a Mergenthaler matrix is arectangular plate having a formative character-cavity in one edge of itadapted to serve as the mold for the face of the respective character onthe linotype. The thickness of that plate is thewidth of the characterplus a margin on each side equal to half the white that there is to bein the printed line between that character and each adjoining one, thetwo margins taking the form of side walls to the cavity. As an Italiccharacter is wider over all, or between perpendiculars, spondingRomanone, it follows thata matrixbody for the former has been thickerhitherto than one for the latter. Thus take the case of the two capitalsA13. On matrixbodies each of whose sides is one plane the position ofthe left side ofthe B-matrix body that of the adjacent serif and theposition of the right side of theA-inatrix body by that of the to'p ofthe A. The present invention consists in there being a rabbet in eachside of the matrix-body, one I above and one below the middle of theformative cavity, so that the top half of the A- matrix body abovementioned shall Iit into the rabbet in the li-matrix body, while thebottom half of the Banatrix body shall fit into the rabbet in the bottomhalf of the A- matrix l edy. one on (20h side of the matrixdmdy,

The elteet of the two rabbets, isto so to spealgthan the cox-re l bendthe latter twicc-tln'ough a right angle through the formative cavity.'lhesame effect is gained it each bend is atan obtuse instead of a rightangle, both angles being equal. In the lat [or case the central portionofthe matrik-body behind the formative eavity is inclined to the sameangle as the character. However, for the reason that it is, practicallyeasier to r'abbct the matrix-bodies by removing matrix material than bybending them the invention is described from that point of view.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as part ofthis specifi cation and reznl-therewith, Figure 1 is ancievation of aline of matrices for tho'words North Sea as they above mentioned. Fig. 2is a side elevation of one of the same matrices looking at it from theleft hand of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a single matrix separatedfrom its fellows. Fig. l is an elevation of a line'of modified matriceslikewise for North Sea as they hang'in the same machine. Fig.5 is asideelevation of one of the same matrices 1001 ing at it from the left handof Fig; 4. V Fig. 6 is an elevation of a single matrix of the same lineseparated from its fellows. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a shortquad, and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a long one.

Referringto Figs. 1 to 3, is the rectangular metal plate or matrix-bodyabove mentioned, 1 7 the shoulders orlngs by which each matrix issuspended in the machine and alined, y the notch in the rear edge 1 ythe formative cavity at the bottom of the said notch and in which thetypeface is east, and y the V-shaped notch in the top end, all asheretofore. This notch may be toothed or not, according as to whetherthe improved matrices are to be sent through the distributor or into thesorts-box after the casting operation.

A comparison'of the figures illustrating the present specification withthose of the speci- Jieation of Letters Patent No. 9,739 of 1895 willmark the absence of the side wall from each side of the formative cavityy". According to the present invention the body 1 has two rectangularrabbets 11 one on each side of it and both of the same depth. Each hangin the machine an Italic character from the perpendicular to, 1

say, the left hand, is equal to the obliquity of the other half to therighthand. The rah- I bets preferably extend across the matrix-body yfrom the edge 3 to the opposite one, as shown in Fig. 2, the shouldersbeing also preferably rectilinear and at right angles with those edges,as illustrated;- but the invention admits of variations in gljpserespects.

All the matrices being rabbeied on both sides, it follows that both endsof a line of such matrices will be uneven. To enable those ends toreceive the pressure of the visejaws of the justifying and castingmechanism, as well as to enable the uneven ends of a portion of a linein the improved Italic matrices to fit up to the other portion orportions of that line in Roman matrices, quads y f are provided for therespective ends. They are of the same shape in all respects as thematrices with which they cooperate, excepting that they are rabbeted ononly their inner side faces. Theirouter side faces y are plane surfaces,and they have neither notches 3 nor formativecavities y. The width ofthe quads from their outer faces 1/ to the inner and opposite ones maybe as narrow'as is practicable-that is to say, a quad y whose only dutyis to fill up an upper rabbet 3 need not be thicker than the projectionof the shoulder 3 is wide, while a quad *1 that must fill 'up a lowerrabbet y and carry a pair of top shoulders y and a notch 31 must be asthick as the width of a shoulder 1 .plus the minimum thickness of ashoulder y.

This point will be clear after a description of the modificationillustrated in Figs. 4 to 8. According to it the upper and lower rabbets111 411 do not extend up to the plane that intersects the formativecavities y, but only about up to the tops and bottoms thereof,

preferably past the bottoms and not as far as the tops, as clearly shownin Figs. 4 to 6.-

lhe shoulders 11 in the said plane become impossible and are replaced byinclines 3 which are at the same angle throughout the font in order thateach matrix may be capable of fitting metal-tight up to any other. Theshort quad. y to fill up the upper rabbet y extends as far as thejunctionof an incline 1 with the respective matrix side beneath it, butnot farther than that, and is of the same thickness as the depth of theupper rabbet 11 which it fills. The long quad 3 must fill a lower rabbet11 up to the junction of the incline 1 with the matrix side above it,and must also carry top shoulders 1 and notch 9 To enable it to do that,a supplementary plate 11 carrying the said shoulders and notch and ofthe same area as a quad y or if above described, is made fast to orincorporated with it.

The term Italic is to be understood as including all fonts whose generalcontour is a sloping one, as compared with the upright one of a Romanfont.

The distinguishing feature or characteristic of my matrix is thearrangement of the two ends so that they are offset, or, in other words,so that they stand out of line with each other, thus permitting theapplication of an inclined or irregular character at the junction of theoffset operations. I

In order that the matrices may be practi cally handled by the composing,casting, and distributing mechanism of alinotype-machine and that theymay properly serve their purpose therein, it is necessary that theoffset or inclined portion shall occupy only the middle portion of thematrix, or, in other words, that it shall be restricted as nearly aspossible to the space occupied by the character or matrix proper andthat the matrix-body shall present at each end a long vertical portionof parallel outer faces.

I am aware that type have been formed with their body portions inclinedfrom the vertical and with laterally-protruding lips at the upper andlowerends to enter corresponding notches in the adjacent type. Thisconstruction is not applicable to; a matrix for a linotype-machine.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A linotype-matrix,laterally inclined or offset solely at; the middle to receive thecharacter or matrix proper, and having its side faces extended upwardand downward in vertical lines from theoffset portion.

2. A linotype-matrix having its middle portion only inclined or offsetlaterally, to contain the matrix prop r, and having the long ends ofequal and uni orm thickness extended upward and downward respectivelyfrom the offset portion.

3. A matrix consisting of two rectangular sections joined directlytogether to form an offset on each side, the character or matrix properbeing located at the point of juncture between the two sections.

4. In combination with a linotype-matrix having an offset portion at themiddle and vertical upper and lower ends, a complementary quad of equalength with the matrix, having on one side a continuous vertical face andon the opposite side faces offset to correspond with the matrix.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

nnnnn NADALL.

Witnesses:

Cults. S. Woonnorrn HARRY It. Cox.

